Universal blue dye and method of producing the same.



STATES PATENT OFFICE. enemies c. or CHIGIJOTJIJNOIS, ASSIGNOB r0 stmnnaul cnnmrcar. com any, or cnzcaeo, 'ILILINOIS, a conrom'rron or rumors- 1,274,046. mi Drawing.

To all whom it may concern: 4 I

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. HUFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have discovered a certain new and useful'Universal Blue Dye and Methods of Producing the Same, of which the following is a specification.

My discovery relates to dyes and particularly to a novel dye soap having peculiar and advantageous qualities.

I am aware that heretofore dyes have been incorporated in soaps with the object in view of providing a simple carrier for the dye and fairly satisfactory results may be secured if neutral dyes are employed and if the water in which the substance is used is of exactil ly the right temperature. 1

y improved dye 'soa should not be confused with those in w ich the soap acts merely as a carrier or vehicle for the dye, as the following description will show that the final product is the result of peculiar reactions which take place between the dye and the elements of the soap and which product could not besecured by the use of the mate rials heretofore employed or as heretofore combined. By reason of the novel process of compounding and the selection of substances which enter into the compound, a dye is produced which is equal if not superior to those which require boiling and the addition of a mordant for setting the color.

One of the important distinctions of the dyes produced by 'me is that they are alkali proof, irrespective of the characteristic of r the dye, that is, basic, neutral or acid, before combining in the soap.

A still further distinction is that the dyes are universal, that is, adaptable to either cotton, woll, silk or flax, or mixtures thereof.

One of the important advantages following the use of the method disclosed is that of allowing the glycerol, which is, a byproduct of the saponification process, to remain in the product. This is liberated when the soap is dissolved and cooperates with the dye in attacking the fabric. Furthermore it assists in fixing the colors following the application of heat, as in the act of ironing, after the fabric has been dried.

The composition and the method of pre- Specification of Letters Yatent.

m'mmnsn. BLUE DYE Ann METHOD or rnonucme run smn.

that it isdesired to produce five gross of one ounce bars of the soap. To produce this quantity, three gallons and forty-two ounces of vegetable oil and one gallon and twentyfour ounces of sodium hydroxid '(NaOH of a specific gravity 'of 1.40 at 65 F. are combined. The oil or oils used may be varied; Olive, soy bean, raisin, peanut, crude corn or any vegetable oil may be used separately or combined with cocoanut oil. The proportions of the coooanut oil and other oils will vary according to weather co.ndi-' tlons. Under normal cond tlons one gallon,

fourteen ounces of cocoanut oil will be employedto two gallons, twenty-eight ounces of the other oils. In Warm, dry weather I Patented July 30, 191s.' Application filed September 24, 1917. Serial No. 192,871.

the proportion of cocoanut oil should belessened and increased in cool, damp Weather.

The oil and caustic soda are mixed until the saponification is nearly completed at which timevthe dye solution is added. For the production of the various shades'of blue a quantity of methylene blue or tetrainethyl- --ing a complex dye compound which differs from. alkali blue in that it requires no deblue as the latter is fast or permanent only on vegetable fibers whereasthe compound produced is universal. The exact chemical formula of the product has notfbeen deter.- mined and it can be defined only by reference tothe materials entering into it and the method of combining them.

After allowing a few minutes forthe re-- action to take-place and after the dye has become thoroughly mixed with the soap, the soap is poured into molds Where it is allowed to remain at a te'mperatnre of about F. for forty-eight hours.

It will be noted that the glycerol is not removed from. the product and therefore will be released as the soap is dissolved. It will be absorbed by the fabr c alon and will assist in fixingthe Eye when heat is applied to the fabric as in ironing. It has furthermore, an advantageous effect on the veloping. It also differs from methylene .With the dye fabric in softening the same and brightening the colors.

latter even when the water containing the dye is added. Of course, the amount of the saponifying agent'may be varied somewhat but in any case an excess should be employed.

In use the soap and the garment or tabric to be dyed are introduced into hot water and the soap is applied directly to the fabric to thoroughly cleanse the same. Even though the soap is applied locally or only in spots the coloring will be even. Furthermore, the hands or container will not be colored. After the article is cleansed and dyed it is rinsed in cold water and dried in the usual manner. The dyewill be found to be alkali proof.

One of the most important features of my novel discovery is that the shade of color which is secured in the use of the articleis the same whether a large or small quantity is employed and whether it is used in hot or cold water. It is preferably used w ith hot water for the reason that the soap will not act to thoroughly cleanse the article unless the water is hot. The effect of deepening the shades by the use of hot water is not present and this is "of great importance if it be desired to reproduce certain colors.

The ordinary user has no 'means of determining whether the same temperature is employed-in each instance. Neithenwould he be able to determine whether same quantity of the dyeing material was employed. By the use of my product the colors may be duplicated with ease and certainty.

Attention is called to the fact that the soap is manufactured by the cold process. By reason of this process of manufacture I am enabled to secure an abcolutely uniform product with regardto the colors produmd. The low temperatures employed are much more easily controlled and the necessary reaction between tlie soap and the dye is completed with a certainty which is not possible in a settled soap. W

blue combined with soap, X

' to substantially 122 exactly -the I claim;

l. The herein described universal blue dye which is formed by adding dissolved methylene blue to a saponified solution containing an excess of sodium hydroxid,substantially as described.

2. A blue dye soap composed of the reacof a vegetableoil, an excessof tion products a saponifying combined as set scribed.

3. The method alkali proof blue dye which consists in combining a vegetable oil agent, and a methylene blue,

forth, substantially as deof producing a universal,

and a quantity of sodium hydroxid in e'x'-- cess of that required for saponification, then dissolving methylene" blue in hot waterfand adding'the dye solution to the saponified solution'just before saponification is completed, then thoroughly mixing and. then molding the soap,

l. The method of producing a universal hich consists in a solution of vegetable oil and preparing ofsodium hydroxid, then dissolvcombined with soap.

substantially as described.

ing methylene blue in boiling water and same to the soapsolution, the

adding the bodies plus the heat of the subheat of the sequent reaction being such as to bring the temperature of the compound to approximately 122 F., substantially as descr1bed.

then pouring the material,

5. The method of producing an proof, universal dye combined with soap; a vegetable which consists in saponifying oil with a substantial excess of the saponifying' agent, then dissolving methylene blue.

inwater and adding the'same to' the soap solution prior to thecomplete saponlfication and without removal of glycerol from the soap,'the temperature of the compound after the addition of the dye being raised F.,-then allowing the reaction to be completed and .finally alloW- ing solidification, substantially as described.

'6. A dye soap formed by combining approximatelylfoun hundred and twenty-six "parts of a vegetable oil and one hundred of sodium hydroxidof and fifty-two parts F., then a specific gravity of 1.40 at 65 adding to the compound. just prior to complete saponification, one hundred and twenty eight parts of hot water in which substan tially six ounces of methylene blue has been dissolved, substantially as described.

Signed at. Chicago, 111., this 22nd day of September,

1917. y v CHARLES C. HUFFMAN. Witness:

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, bjadd'ressing the Commissioner '0! Patent, v washin'gtomn c. 

